NORWICH – The Guernsey Memorial Library, in conjunction with Literacy Volunteers of Chenango County, will soon be hosting a state-funded adult literacy program, upholding its mission to increase the literacy skills and employability of many Chenango County residents.

The literacy course is called Motivating Positive Performance and Productivity, or MP3. Literacy Volunteers of Chenango County (LVCC) will be offering MP3 at Guernsey beginning Nov. 29 and continuing through the next two years.

The program is an intensive, 44-week long session and registration is continuous. The objective is to increase literacy and work-related skills in two target demographics: The first being out of school youth, 16-21, whose literacy skills fall below a sixth grade reading level, thereby making them ineligible to take the GED; the second being out-of-work adults struggling with literacy issues.

LVCC Director Laurie Jerome said the program is specifically tailored to suit the needs of Chenango County. Many area residents do not meet the qualifications necessary to enroll in GED or state or federal training programs, she said. The 2000 census showed that nearly 7,000 people (14 percent) of Chenango County was at or below a fourth grade reading level.

MP3 has set a goal of raising students’ literacy skills to at least a sixth grade reading level.

“Besides meeting literacy goals, we want to better prepare them for the work force,” said Jerome. She added that many who have troubles with literacy fall short of employment expectations and fail to find jobs in the area.